Military posts to stand down for day to discuss extremism
The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, February 21, 2021
Military installations in Maryland and across the country have been directed to take one day from normal operations to lead discussions on extremism in the military.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin directed every commander and supervisor in the Department of Defense to carry out the stand-down before April 6, according to the order issued this month.
“This stand-down is just the first initiative of what I believe must be a concerted effort to better educate ourselves and our people about the scope of this problem and to develop sustainable ways to eliminate the corrosive effects that extremist ideology and conduct have on the workforce,” Austin wrote.
Defense Department leaders will be allowed to tailor discussions for their personnel, he wrote. However, discussions should include the importance of the oath of office, procedures for reporting suspected or actual extremist behavior and descriptions of impermissible behaviors.
While such orders aren’t uncommon in the military, said U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown, he never experienced one for the entire Department of Defense in his 30 years on active duty with the Army and reserves.
The stand-down comes after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. An NPR analysis found that nearly 1 in 5 people charged over their alleged involvement in the attack appeared to have a military history.
“It really brings greater attention to this problem in the military,” said Brown, a Prince George’s County Democrat. “It’s a growing
problem. And I always want to use crises and tragedies as an opportunity to make change and bring about change and reform and improvement.”
While the break from routine is only for one day, what is discussed during the training should not last only one day, Brown said. Further training will need to build on the stand-down.
The military needs to stay neutral in order to complete its mission, U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersbrger said. He applauded Austin for issuing the stand-down.
“We need to open a dialogue on how to root out and prevent extremism to stop those who wish to undermine our democracy from doing harm and to best support the mission of our troops to serve and protect our nation,” Ruppersberger, a Baltimore County Democrat, said in an email.
“We have a problem,” he said. “When we have a problem, we have to deal with it.”
While installations
in Maryland, including the Naval Academy, Fort George G. Meade, Fort Detrick and Joint Base Andrews, received the order, they are in a holding pattern while they wait for more details about the order, spokesmen for the bases said.
Each command in the Navy, which includes units on Fort Meade and Fort Detrick, will participate in the stand-down, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said in a memo.
The Navy has the responsibility to teach those in the fleets about extremism, Gilday wrote.
“As a Navy uniform and civilian, active and reserve — we cannot tolerate extremist behavior of any kind, and must engage in open and honest conversations with each other and take action,” he wrote. “Leaders at all levels must lead by example. You must set the tone. You must model correct behavior 24/7/365 in person and online.”
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